Top leader of banned Manipuri outfit held in Bangalore

A self-styled commander-in-chief
of banned Manipuri outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (MC) was
arrested from Bangalore by a Delhi Police team. Nangthanbam Anand alias Malengamba (36) was apprehended on May five.

New Delhi: A self-styled commander-in-chief
of banned Manipuri outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (MC) was
arrested from Bangalore by a Delhi Police team, police said
on Tuesday.

Nangthanbam Anand alias Malengamba (36) was apprehended
from Bangalore on May five following investigations into the
seizure of 200 kg ephedirine worth Rs two crore from an
alleged KCP (MC) militant on April one.

Anand was allegedly involved in the throwing of bombs
into Imphal Raj Bhavan in 2008.

"Napolean who was arrested on April one told us that he
was working with one Robindro. Investigations revealed that
Robindro is a trade partner of Malengamba, whom we learnt was
operating from Karnataka," Arun Kampani, Deputy Commissioner
of Police (Special Cell), said.

A laptop, seven mobile phones, pen drives, internet
broadband connection and documents, threat e-mails and
extortion letters related to KCP (MC) have been recovered. The
accused was brought to Delhi and is in police custody till May
13.

After the arrest of Napolean, Delhi Police had claimed
that the militants from the north-eastern region have started
indulging in drug trade to cough up money for their activities
besides extorting money from government officials and
contractors.

Anand studied upto Class IV and was unemployed. In 2002,
he was arrested in a criminal case and thus met with one
Thockchom Nando, who motivated him to join his outfit KCP
(Tabungba) Group.

"The outfit was involved in extortion and killing
innocent people. Subsequently in 2009, Nando met him in the
jail again and directed him to raise another faction in the
name of KCP (Malengamba). He was also nominated as
Commander-in-Chief of the outfit.

"He extended threats to various political leaders,
government officials and MNC executives in order to get
protection money. When police in Manipur built up pressure on
him, he along with his wife Salima Soibam and son Jemson
shifted to Goa. After staying there for a short span of time,
he shifted to Bangalore about seven months ago," Kampani said.

Anand allegedly used to get directions from Nando from
Central Jail in Sajiwa from his mobile phone. Nando used to
recruit cadre from jail and give the detainee`s contact number
to Anand.

"Nando also assigned him the task of getting protection
money from mobile phone companies and tower operators. When
the tower operator once did not heed to his demands, he
directed one Phireppa to kill one Borobabu, a Reliance mobile
phone operator," Kampani said.

Anand also allegedly threatened MLAs Bijoi Kozem,
Skrujoy, Allaudin and NG Bijoi not to contest elections and
also extorted money worth lakhs of rupees. He frequently
changed his mobile number so as not to get caught, he said.

Nando had also nominated Anand as the Public Secretary
of the outfit to give press note on behalf of the outfit. He
also allegedly used to write on the letter pad of KCP for
seeking financial contribution from various business houses,
individuals and officials.

"He also invested his share of extortion money in drugs
trade in order to extract more profit. He was in touch with
Napolean and Robindro as an associate in their drugs trade,"
Kampani said.